We would like to take a moment to honor the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV and celebrate his visionary leadership and indelible influence in the world. Our long-standing relationship with The Aga Khan University (AKU) and His Highness has been a pivotal force in shaping the firm we are today. In 1971, His Highness the Aga Khan, engaged Tom Payette – then not yet 40 – to design the AKU Hospital and campus in Karachi. At His Highness’s insistence, PAYETTE traveled to Spain, North Africa, Iran, and South Asia, to study patterns of spatial organization and inhabitation, uses of materials and ornament, and hierarchies of architectural forms, tectonics, and spaces. In a 1979 speech The Aga Khan positioned: “In Islamic design the basic forms are balanced and ruled by geometry. There is a sense of stability, tranquility and equilibrium.” There is a desire “to respect and preserve ecological balance” as well as “to bring to this world some of the beauty of the hereafter.” The state-of-the-art hospital and medical education complex interprets without imitating vernacular architecture. What resulted is a 35-year-long exploration of the fusion of architectural forms, courtyards, local materials, passive systems, and healthcare planning principles. PAYETTE has been honored to collaborate on more than a dozen additional buildings, expanding the Stadium Road campus to more than two million square feet. Today, the AKU Hospital serves over a million patients annually. The Aga Khan’s legacy is not only in the buildings and places in which His Highness created, but in deep ripples onto the healthcare practice and international standards. This blending of local and international practices has been duplicated in the region, carried to other AKU campuses in neighboring countries and extended to other hospitals. We will forever carry The Aga Khan in the ethos of our firm. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e_zDZitG
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Great tribute to a great man, George. Tom would be pleased. Thank you.
George, Again you removed my comments about your recent post regarding the late Aga Khan and the iconic AKU. WHY??? I find your post to be unprofessional and inconsistent with the character of the George Marsh that I admired. The Aga Khan’s condition for awarding the AKU project to Payette’s firm was to have Mozhan Khadem agree to have a pivotal role in the design of the project. Therefore I entered into an agreement as the design consultant of the project with the provision that in any and all publicity I will be given proper design credit, as evidenced in the Architectural Records of October 1981 and May 1987 AKU cover pages. I worked on the project from my office in Chicago and Tehran from 1971 till 1979 and as Payette Associate principal in charge of the entire project from 1979 till 1994 when I left. During the 23 years of my pivotal role on the project I made over 150 trips to Pakistan and France to supervise the design and construction of the project and meet with the Aga Khan and his brother Prince Amyn. Tom was not present in most of these meetings. In view of the above I find your post inconsistent with the integrity of George Marsh that I know. Mozhan Khadem mozhan.khadem@gmail.com
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir #Aga #Khan IV, whose remarkable vision and leadership have left an indelible mark on the world. His commitment to advancing education, healthcare, and community development has shaped countless lives. At BROAD Group Ltd. , we take immense pride in being part of the journey at #Aga Khan #Hospital #Karachi for the last two decades, providing state-of-the-art HVAC solutions. This facility stands as one of the largest cooling generation projects in Pakistan, all belong to BROAD. We amazed and acknowledged that PAYETTE contribute to making this hospital one of the most exceptional hospitals globally.
The Aga Khan University and Hospital is an oasis of healing landscape and architecture in an ever expanding city of Karachi-the Aga Khan’s vision is a timeless place in the history of architecture of health for humanity; his legacy lives in these walls and in this campus
Goerge, How unprofessional to keep eliminating my and the comments of others like the prominent Pakistani architect Hafeez Habibi who like many others know the pivotal design role I played in the architectural design of AKU. Due to the Aga Khan’s insistsnce and per my agreement with Payette in any publicity, credit should be given to my design role, as evidenced in Architectural records of October 1981 and May 1987. I INSIST THAT PYETTE HONOR OUR AGREEMENT. The Aga Khan asked me to educate the design team including Tom Payette about the subtleties of Islamic architecture. I INITIATED the conceptual design of the project and led its SD and DD phases with Tom Payette from my Chicago and Tehran offices from 1971 to 1978. Due to the Iran’s revolution and due to Tom’s difficulties in satisfying the client Tom asked me to join him as the principal in charge of the entire project. Without my dedication and leadership for 23 years to the AKU, this iconic project will not have become what it now is. Tom payette was not privy to the many design decisions I made and many meetings I had with the client. George, YOU DO KNOW my pivotal design role in AKU project. Where is to your professionalism? Mozhan Khadem, mozhan.khadem@gmail.com
RIP
Chairman Habibi Group
2wGreat contribution of Architect Mozhan Khadem This great piece of architecture designed by Mozhan Khadem has lasting impact on the contemporary architecture of Pakistan.